Council annexes 50‑acre Poudre School District parcel, rezones it commercial‑mixed use

The Town Council on Jan. 28 unanimously approved annexation and a zoning map amendment for roughly 50 acres known as Poudre School District Timnath 50.

Planning staff explained the voluntary annexation petition by the Poudre School District meets Colorado annexation act contiguity rules (the property achieves approximately 69% contiguous boundary with the town) and aligns with the town’s comprehensive plan designation of commercial mixed use. The annexed land is located near the southeast intersection of Main Street and Busgrove Road and will be zoned commercial mixed use (CMU).

Chad Kemper said annexation enables the town to include the parcel in future subdivision and site‑plan review and would allow coordination on road improvements along Busgrove Road; the town’s intergovernmental agreement with Larimer County supports timely annexations in the growth management area. The school district asked two modifications to the standard annexation agreement: to clarify that the town’s municipal building code would not apply to school buildings governed by the State Division of Fire Prevention and Control, and to exempt athletic fields on the site from the town’s irrigation requirements. Staff said both modifications were appropriate for a school district petition and would apply only if the district builds school facilities; other permitted uses would remain subject to municipal codes.

Council members voiced support and expressed a preference that the district retain the property for a future school. Kemper said the district has no immediate construction schedule for a school but indicated the site is intended for future district use. Planning Commission had recommended unanimous approval. Both the annexation ordinance and the zoning map amendment passed unanimously.